Date: 2018-01-23

The Kwara State Government last week commenced the distribution of water in Ilorin metropolis to reduce the hardship being experienced by residents due to water scarcity.

Therefore, the ongoing Water Support Scheme became necessary to cushion the effect of the water scarcity because the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed can't look the other way when the people are suffering due to temporary water scarcity.

Needless to say water is great importance to survival of mankind. We drink and use water for cooking, bathing, washing and to perform some religion activities. The water palliative scheme been managed by Kwara State Water Corporation is expected to run for an initial two months pending the completion of ongoing water projects that will make public water supply available at every 500 meters across the state.

Complementing the state government's intervention is a demand driven water palliative driven by the constituency office of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Tagged Team ABS, the scheme supplies water to Ilorin neighborhoods once requests are made to a dedicated telephone line manned 24hrs by project staff.

Its noteworthy that the Water support service is an expansion of an existing scheme to cover more parts of the metropolis and environs. The expansion which covers 50 areas aim at rescuing the masses from using contaminated streams that could spread water borne diseases like typhoid, food poisoning among others.

Furthermore, preventing outbreak of diseases is far better than curing it. More so water is very critical to healthy living and no government would joke with anything that will affect the health of its people.

Hence, the state government resorted to free water distribution while intensifying efforts to complete ongoing water projects as captured in Kwara State 2018 budget.

It's heartwarming that Kwara State Water Reticulation project will be completed before the end of second quarter. Aside that, the state government is working on expansion of Agba Dam Waterworks and Oyun Waterworks. Kwara State has also partnered with federal government to facilitate the completion of Malete Waterworks.

Although, the Water Support Services is just a temporary solution to the problem but the fact remains that people of Ilorin Metrolis and environs benefiting from the water distribution have been relieved of stress and time they usually waste in trying to get clean water for their household daily.

Governor Ahmed is committed towards making his administration's agenda of providing potable water accessible and available to kwarans/residents at every 500 meters a reality this year.